Burial apparatus



(No Model.)

J. C. HERRMANN.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

No. 327,551. Patented Oct. 6, 1885.

047% JMW UNITED STATES JOHN C. I'IERRMANN, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOVA.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed February 20, 1885.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J 01m 0. HERRMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The Object of myinvention is to render safe and easy the operation of lowering burialcaskets into graves; and the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of an adjustable and portable framework, adapted to support the casket, and a movable tackle, whereby the casket may be easily and accurately placed in position, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accon'xpanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a side view of the invention in perspective; Fig. 2, a sectional view of one of the arches and its supports, and Fig. 3 a plan view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts.

The frame-work which supports the coffin or casket consists in metallic arches A A A, mounted on posts B B, stayed by guyrods E E, and provided with a track, G. The arches are preferably of wrought-iron, angular or curvilinear in form, and are shouldered at the ends to admit of their being slipped into the ends of the posts B B, which for this purpose, and for the sake of lightness and strength, are preferably of gas-pipe or similar tubing. The arches are provided with central flanges, A, and the upper ends of the posts with flanges D D, having holes to receive the hooked endsof the guy-rods E E. A hole in the center of the arch admits the stud b,which supports the string-piece 0, serving as support and track for the carriage F. The posts are provided with suitable bases, D D', which may be permanently attached, like the flange-s at the upper end, by screwing on or otherwise. To admit of adjustment to inequalities in the surface of the ground the posts are made extensible, as shown in Fig. 2. The post is in two parts, in one of which is fastened a long dowel, d, upon which the other part of the post is free to slip, and is fastened at any desired point by the thunibscrew C. The dowel may be a solid rod of round iron, or a Patent No. 327,551, dated October 6, 1885.

Serial No. 156,522. (No model.)

smaller-sized gaspipe, as desired. Two or more of the posts are also provided with a set of braces, e c, pivoted in sliding sleeves G G, by means of which the posts are kept in a vertical position while the remainder of the frame-work is in process of erection. Being pivoted to the sleeves, these braces maybe set at any desired angle for use, and when not in use closed up into a small space.

\Vith the exception of the rail 0, which is fastened to the arches by studs and nuts, the various parts of the frame-work are slipped in place, and are therefore connected and detached in the shortest possible time and in the simplest manner.

Disconnected, the apparatus may be loaded in a light vehicle and transported from place to place, and these features render it specially convenient for the sexton or undertaker.

On the rail or track 0 is mounted a carriage, F, having travelers to run on the track, and depending therefrom a pulley'block adapted to operate in connection with the block and tackle F, as shown. These are connected and disconnected in a simple and well-known manner, as the device has already been used for other purposes. The casket or box containing it, H, is suspended from the book of the tackle by cords having hooks at the end to connect with the handles or rings of the casket or case, and which easily disconnect after the casket reaches its destination.

The operation of the apparatus, after the casket reaches the point where it is lowered into the grave,will be readily seen by reference to Fig. l, and need not be specially described. In practice, however, it is designed that the casket shall be deposited by the pall-bearers on the ground at the other side of the central arch, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. To this end the outer arch at this end is made considerably wider than the others, that the bearers may have room to pass through it. After the last ceremony has been performed, the undertaker or sexton, by means of the tackle, raises the casket, connects it with the carriage, moves it to the proper position over the grave, and thence lowers it to its resting place, directed by the guides J J, set in the corner of the grave.

The advantages gained by this apparatus ICO are, that it makes safe and easy in the hands of one man what is now but precariously and w th difficulty performed by four or more. As at present, even with the utmost care, accidents of a very distressing character are liable to occur during the process ofinternient, through the caving in of the earth upon which the bearers stand, or by reason of the nervousness of some of them, or their unfamiliarity with the requirements of the case.

Constructed substantially as described, the apparatus presents a neat and graceful ap pearance that harmonizes with the occasion and the surroundings. It should of course be painted some dark and appropriate color, and may be suitably draped, if desired.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a burial apparatus,the arch A, having shouldered ends a. a, in combination with tubular posts B B, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a burial apparatus,the arch A, having flange A,witn holes to receive the ends ofguyrods, and shouldered ends a a, adapted to slip into tubular posts, substantially as speci-' fied.

3. In a burial apparatus, the adjustable tubular post B, provided with sleeve G and braces ee, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a burial apparatus, the combination of arches A A A, having flanges or lugs A, the tubular posts B B, having flanges D D, and the guy-rods E E, having angular or hooked ends adapted to slip into the holes in said flanges, substantially as specified.

5. In a burial apparatus, the combination of one wide arch and two narrower arches, c0nstructed substantially as described, and a longitudinal rail, 0, depending from the center of said arches, and adapted to serve as a support and track for a block-and-tackle carriage, substantially as set forth.

6. The described burial apparatus, consisting of one wide arch and two narrower arches, having adj ustable and removable tubular posts, and provided with flanges A A and D D, the guy-rods. E E, having angled or hooked ends, the removable rail 0, depending from the arches by central studs, b b b, a carriage, F, adapted to move from end to end of the rail or track and provided with block and tackle, and the guides J J.,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN G. HERRMANN.

Witnesses:

J AMES WVILooX, L. T. WViLcoX. 

